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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2005 Mazda Tribute Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
24about this part
Share
6%of 377 total for the year
Median mileage
58,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Mazda Tribute, 6% of the 377 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While driving at 45 MPH engine speed started to rise. As if transmission had shifted into neutral. I pulled over to the side of the road, and when moving the shift lever to drive nothing happened that is it did not shift into drive. The shift lever moved freely from park to drive but would not shift into drive . It just stayed as it was in neutral. Car at dealer and they tell me $4200.00 to replace the transmission.”

NHTSA complaint #10535360, filed 2013-08, 56,000 miles

“Throttle freeze up. Could not accelerate out of path of on coming vehicle which crashed into my left front fender. This condition has been on going for years now and when I approached the dealer about it I was told to wait for recall letter which never came. Contacted Mazda and was told that this vehicle was not one of the recalled vehicles. It has been problem after problem with this vehicle. And I need help.”

NHTSA complaint #10477303, filed 2012-09, 60,000 miles

“The right back side by the tired the chassis is all rust it and the shock is loose I can move it with my hands and the left side is about to get like the other side.”

NHTSA complaint #10692361, filed 2015-03, 122,210 miles

“My Tribute is a v-6 3.0l and the vehicle was manufactured 11-04 per driver's door sticker. Problem-- after leaving my house and driving down my rural road, I had noticed the vehicle speed stayed the same (approx 40 MPH) even after letting up on the gas pedal. The cruise control was off. So I had did a quick tap on the gas pedal to see if the constant speed would stop and allow the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle did respond and slowed down. This happened to me on three different occasions and all on the same road and in the same area.”

NHTSA complaint #10466622, filed 2012-07, 48,567 miles

“I am the current owner of this vehicle I. Bought it through north shore bank off lease... I take good care of the car and have it maintained regularly . Recently the rear passenger area has been making a loud banging noise, I thought it may be a broken shock or something to that affect. I took it into goodyear in racine wi. Come to find the whole wheel well is rotted out on the passenger side.. The mechanic said he could not fix it and take it to racine auto body also in racine, wi. They also said they have never seen anything like that happen to a car or SUV ever before. …”

NHTSA complaint #10596455, filed 2014-06, 75,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20101333%
200939%
20082512%
20061411%
2005246%
2004149%
20032412%
2002359%
20016912%

Other parts of the 2005 Mazda Tribute

Suspension
137 complaintsBody and structure
126 complaintsVehicle speed control
85 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsWheels
22 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Mazda Tribute

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology